Nicholls Throws More Than Hat at the Kings

It was ex-King night on Tuesday in California. Actually isn’t it ex-King night almost everywhere these days?

Instead of looking wistfully at the out-of-town summaries--scanning for the names of Luc Robitaille, Tomas Sandstrom, Shawn McEachern, Paul Coffey, et al--fans were able to watch scoring from a former King up close and in person.

Chicago center Bernie Nicholls, who started his career here and spent part of nine seasons with the Kings, scored four goals, leading the Blackhawks to an 8-4 victory over the Kings before 15,824 at the Forum.

It is the second time this season Nicholls has had a four-goal performance and the fourth time in his career. He has recorded hat tricks 17 times.

The 33-year-old Nicholls, who has 11 goals and 24 points, has flourished since he joined the Blackhawks as a free agent in July. After scoring 70 goals in the 1988-89 season, he was traded to the Rangers in January, 1990, when the Kings acquired Sandstrom and Tony Granato, and later moved on to Edmonton and New Jersey.

As it turned out, Nicholls said the Kings spoke to his agent about signing him last summer. “L.A. was one of the teams I wanted to play for,” he said. “We never talked money. L.A. was a day late.”

He said there was no bitterness against the Kings.

“No, I loved playing here,” he said. “Sticking it to them? Nah. This was my first home. I really get excited to play here.”

Three of Nicholls’ four goals came on the power play, which is no surprise, considering the Blackhawks came into the game with the NHL’s best power play, at an effectiveness rate of 26.3%. Against the Kings, who are now 2-7-2 at home, Chicago had four power-play goals in seven opportunities.

The negative statistics continue to mount for the Kings (5-9-4). They have allowed the most goals in the league (70), sliding below Winnipeg, which has allowed 68. So much for the alleged new “commitment” to defense.

And their new and improved penalty killing unit has plummeted to 20th in the NHL. It had been ranked as high as fourth. Then came consecutive games against Vancouver on Feb. 18th and 20th in which the Kings allowed eight power-play goals.

“They want to take dumb penalties and we’ve got the power play to score on them,” said Chicago Coach Darryl Sutter. “Every penalty they took was dumb.”

Once again, the opposition had little problem, no matter who was in goal for the Kings. Starter Kelly Hrudey looked particularly shaky, allowing four goals on nine shots in the first 11:16, including two in a 36-second span by Nicholls and Brent Grieve. Grieve’s goal, his first of the season, gave the Blackhawks a 4-2 lead.

Grant Fuhr relieved Hrudey and found himself under siege too. Fuhr faced 26 shots and allowed four goals, which means he has given up 13 goals in 6 1/2 periods.

“It’s not difficult to figure out, we just plain got beat and didn’t play well,” King Coach Barry Melrose said.

Said Hrudey: “I just didn’t make the saves. . . . We have to be in this for the long haul.”

The King goals were scored by Jari Kurri, his fourth of the season and first in 10 games; Kevin Brown, his first in the NHL; Rick Tocchet, his 10th of the season; and Dan Quinn, his fourth of the season.

King Notes

Attempting to mend a shaky defense, the Kings acquired defenseman Dave Karpa from the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 1995 or 1996. Karpa, 23, is 6 feet 1, 202 pounds and had no points in two games with Quebec. In 1993-94, he played in 60 games and had 17 points. Karpa can also play forward. “This one is an easy one, no controversy over a fourth-round pick,” King General Manager Sam McMaster said. . . . The injured list is down to four players--defensemen Marty McSorley (strained groin), Tim Watters (strained groin) and Philippe Boucher (sprained right wrist) and left wing Eric Lacroix (sprained right knee). Boucher might be ready for Saturday’s game against Vancouver.